POS1093 WHO ARE THE PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASE IN NEED TO SPECIALISED MULTIDISCIPLINARY REHABILITATION?
Authors: E. Besada
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease, while receiving highly effective disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, are still referred to multidisciplinary rehabilitation in specialised centres. Although multidisciplinary rehabilitation only have small and short-term improvements in patients’ outcome, it could benefit patients with specific disability and rehabilitation needs, indicating a more complicated disease [1]. <h3>Objectives</h3> In order to identify the specific rehabilitation needs of patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease, it is of paramount importance to describe their clinical characteristics. The present study includes all patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease who were referred to multidisciplinary rehabilitation in Northern Norway between 2018 and 2021. <h3>Methods</h3> In Norway, the cost of multidisciplinary rehabilitation in specialised centres is covered by the national welfare system. However patients must be referred by a physician and the referral approved by the regional assessment office (rehabilitation regional vurderingsenhet) at the University Hospital of North Norway. All patients referred to multidisciplinary rehabilitation were included in this longitudinal study; the study was retrospective from January 1<sup>st</sup> 2018 to 31<sup>st</sup> December 2018 and afterwards prospective to June 10<sup>th</sup> 2021. Data were extracted from referrals and hospital discharge summaries. Age, gender, diagnosis, county and municipality, referring physicians were collected in all patients. Major symptoms and associated diseases were later included in the study. <h3>Results</h3> 786 patients out of 1028 referrals were referred to multidisciplinary rehabilitation during the study period. The referral rate was 0.39 and 0.56/1000 persons/year for respectively the counties of Nordland and Troms-Finnmark. Patients´ mean age was 54 and 76 % were women. 43 % of all patients were first time referral. 56 % had spondyloarthritis, 23 % rheumatoid arthritis, 15 % connective tissue disease and 3.3 % vasculitis including polymyalgia rheumatica. The most common associated diseases were osteoarthritis and obesity, respectively in 36 and 31 % (Table 1). 41 % complained of fatigue and 38 % had diffuse pain. <h3>Conclusion</h3> In Northern Norway, the referral rate to multidisciplinary rehabilitation is 0.47/1000 persons/year. The prototypical patient referred to multidisciplinary rehabilitation is a woman in her sixth decade with spondyloarthritis, often complaining of fatigue and diffuse pain. Although these patients have seldom major physical disability, they are mostly in need for coping strategies regarding fatigue and chronic pain. <h3>References</h3> [1]Uhlig T, Bjørneboe O, Krøll F, et al. Involvement of the multidisciplinary team and outcomes in inpatient rehabilitation among patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord 2016;17:18.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-016-0870-9 <b>Characters from table content including title and footnotes.</b> BMI&gt;30: obesity; DM: diabetes mellitus; FMS: fibromyalgia; MI: myocardial infarct; OA: osteoarthritis; PSY: depression and/or anxiety; T&lt;-2.5: osteoporosis. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.